too new.

Right on Dynamite . hand claps. you gotta love hand claps.
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The Knife - "Silent Shout". not to be confused with No Knife and Knife Skills. Swedish sultry electronic dance with whispery vocals. record out on Mute, July 25, 2006.

The Polyphonic Spree announced two weeks of West Coast dates in September, including five supporting Hasidic reggae star Matisyahu. Who? whoops, awkward. The Poly Spree--26 members on last count--devoted much of early 2006 recording its third album which has no release date, but expected sometime in 2007. Check the recording process on the band's studio blog at http://www.thefragilearmy.com.
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Nitzer Ebb, a complete opposite of Poly Spree, is touring for serious. If you're over 25 and went to clubs, you may have heard of them.

leave your cell phones at the door.
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new schmew

The Kooks -- stream this sh*t. or this. it's late, i'm going to bed, so i'll just say, um, Britty bratty punky rock ala Art Brut, Kaiser Chiefs, rougher edged Blur and sh*t. record out october 3 on astralwerks. they're big in UK. good for them. thanks, goodnite.

into the future. new music in the hooouuussseeee.

The Hourly Radio - "Crime Does Pay" . record out September 5. played with Clap Your Hands Say Yeah and stellastarr.
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Favourite Sons - "Hang On Girl" . people from Rollerskate Skinny and Aspera. record out September 12 on Vice. fresh.
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VH1 Classic will air the first 24 hours of MTV on August 1. It's about time.

Shannon's got review and photos of Peaches at Irving Plaza.

best of 2006 so far. not in order.

editors- the back room (fader)
cat power- the greatest (matador)
madonna- confessions on a dancefloor (wb)
she wants revenge- s/t (geffen)
yeah yeah yeahs- show your bones (interscope)
mates of state- bring it back (barsuk)
elefant- black magic show (kemado)
goldfrapp- supernature (mute)
peaches- impeach my bush (xl)
band of horses- everything all the time (subpop)
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Sick. of. you. i'm so sick. so sick of you. in order.

James Blunt- "Beautiful"
Daniel Powter- "Bad Day"
KT Tunstall- "Black Horse and the Cherry Tree"
Fray- "Over My Head"
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Classic vintage video
Phil Collins: Take Me Home (1986)
What's more epic about this song, which is anchored by a comforting keyboard loop, is the many famous locales in the video, most of which can be identified. Phil Collins made a small footnote in history when he played Live Aid in the United States AND London in the same day. That was nothing. Here he's in like 20 cities within 6 minutes. How in the world does he do it?

The Gersch: s/t (Tortuga)
release: June 6, 2006
styles: Sludgy Lo-Fi Stoner Doom Metal
similar: Black Sabbath, Wolf Mother, Fu Manchu
rating: ***

The ass kicking thing about the now non-existent Gersch is that they can be seriously heavy without ever entering the tempos of most metal and hardcore and metalcore bands. This gathering of lost recordings from the 90s uncovers a short-lived obscurity that forms its lyrics from the "poetic dialogue" of Conan the Babarian. I don't remember Conan saying much in that first film, and the Gersch's lyrics aren't easy to decipher. This isn't, however, about lyrics. It's about guitar distortion that is thicker than Conan's muscles. -Kenyon
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The Editors limited edition rarities EP is as ace as the Back Room. It includes a cover of Stereolab's "French Disko" and a wicked remix of "Munich." Tour dates this summer as well as gigs on TV, including The Late Late Show in August.
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The Coral Sea: Volcano and Heart (Hidden Agenda)
release: June 27, 2006
styles: Symphonic Somber Indie Rock
similar: Sea Ray, JJ72, Delgados, Keane
rating: ***1/2

Many bands want to be Radiohead, specifically the Radiohead that made OK Computer. The Coral Sea just wants to rewrite Pablo Honey and add strings while rocking like JJ72. And by golly, it works. -Kenyon

Surprise Cat Power gig this Tuesday at Hiro Ballroom, NYC. No talking please.

Adam Green, where has the love gone? is it in your music? I'll let you know as soon as I hear the new record, out July 25. He'll be at the Virgin Megastore in Union Square NYC to promote. In other Moldy Peach news, Kimya Dawson is about to have a baby. Keep tabs via her profile on myspace. Here's both of them in full costume for "Lucky Number Nine."

new audio and video in the hooouussseee.

I Love You But I've Chosen Darkness- "According To Plan" video. White light and fog. So mysterious. record out now on Secretly Canadian.

see, look...mysterious!
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Everclear- "Hater". from the upcoming record out September 12. I'll take "Santa Monica" or "Heartspark Dollarsign" over this watered-down cliche nonsense any day.
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Mojave 3- "Breaking the Ice" video. (from Puzzles like You out June 20 on 4AD). former shoegazers once again re-invent themselves into upbeat summery indie pop.
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Sean Lennon- film that supplements his upcoming record out September 26. He's got some imagination, that Sean Lennon.

Kaiju Big Battel. August 4 at Warsaw in Brooklyn. Monsters are waiting. like the band yo!

Now is a good time to show you excerpts from my feature story involving Dr. Cube and the Chief Kaiju Officer, originally printed in the Long Island Press a few years ago.

...a hybrid of World Wrestling Entertainment, Godzilla, Jackass, and yes, the gross-out antics of GWAR. Maybe mastermind and Chief Kaiju Officer David Borden can help explain: "It’s a struggle between good and evil. I guess the point is to stop the world from being demolished by huge destructive evil beasts." Good enough.............does anyone get injured? "Not very often," Borden once again ensures us. "The Kaiju Regulatory Commission is really good at evacuating cities. Otherwise, thousands would die when the monsters came crashing into town." Whew, thank heavens. If you do witness a show, just don’t get too close. Unless you want "toxic waste" or "monster blood" on you. And if you want to get lectured by a diabolical surgeon, Dr. Cube is more than willing to offer his insults. "I always try to enlighten drunk humans with an eloquent speech on the perks of joining my evil Posse," he states without a hint of satire. "They usually eat up my every word.".....With such mayhem in the square-circle (which usually is contained by a steel cage), Borden is reluctant to enter. "I never get in the ring. It’s extremely dangerous and I'd probably lose my life if I tried. Giant city-crushing monsters are huge and I'd have little chance of getting out alive. When Kaiju Big Battels go down, I usually get as far away as possible."
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No photos from Siren Fest here, look elsewhere.
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I just sold an old school pencil sharpener on eBay for $3.25. Big let down.
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Someone just posted three comments on here. that guy rules.
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Oh My Rockness recommends Siren Fest, then trashes it in a very clever way. cool! Except they gave a "no comment" for She Wants Revenge. Here's what it should read: Even though they rip off Interpol and Fischerspooner, hipsters are too hip to admit that the record is actually good. Forecast for Saturday: Hazy Hot Humid. Fun times I'm sure.

James Figurine: Mistake Mistake Mistake Mistake (Plug Research)
release: July 11, 2006
styles: Indie Electronic
similar: Styrofoam, Her Space Holiday, Looper, Age of Rockets
rating: **

Mistake is exactly the solo album you'd expect from a guy who's been in the Postal Service, Dntel and Figurine. It's also the kind of album James Figurine (aka Jimmy Tamborello) was destined to make after touring through Germany with Lali Puna while listening to techno ad naseum. The majority of Mistake is the standard, light-hearted indie instrumental electro-pop that wouldn't sound half as good if it was made with guitars and live percussion. But even with those synthy-sizers, it's still dull, as Mistake is too redundant, simple and meandering. Most tracks go over 5 minutes and don't end up going anywhere exciting. And that guest vocal by Jenny Lewis? It's nearly non-existent. Not that I care about Jenny Lewis. She and Rilo Kiley are overrated anyway. -Kenyon

Ministry- "Lies Lies Lies" (from Rio Grande Blood, released in May, not to be confused with the Thompson Twins song) Ministry is still grilling George Bush, and they keep on writing songs about him. That might be a tired thing to do at this point, but remember that Ministry was yelling about the first George Bush 15 years ago. This latest one is typical Ministry form with thrashing guitars, breakneck tempo.

Various Artists: Little Darla Has a Treat for You v.24 Endless Summer Edition (Darla)
release: June 5, 2006
styles: Delicious Indie Pop and Indie Electronic and stuff
rating: ****

Given the large quantity of music that Darla and its family of labels has to offer, the Little Darla comps have been a huge help in sampling fresh songs and artists. This one is like a big mix tape of sorts. With 2 CDs and 36 tracks, there's just so much to absorb. Choice artists include Follow the Train, Robin Guthrie, Mahogany, Sweet Trip, Voxtrot, New Radiant Storm Kings plus many more soon to be discovered treasures. Also includes Depth Affect sampling Gwen Stefani over indie electronic and Boyracer doing a cover of the B-52's "Give Me Back My Man." Didn't see that coming. -Kenyon
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An Albatross: Blessphemy [of the Peace-Beast Feastgiver and the Bear-Warp Kumite] (Ace Fu)
release: June 27, 2006
styles: insane noise
similar: Melt Banana, the Locust
rating: ???

So this is like those other noise core bands that have shrieking vocals you can't understand and really short songs where you can't determine the endings because then they immediately just start the next song. Except these guys have six members and a Farfisa organ. Sounds like f*cking anarchy. Their gigs are supposed to be off the hook. -Kenyon

Schedule for the big show at Coney Island.
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Another big show, way out West. Musicfest NW in Portland, Oregon in September. Line-up includes rivals the Dandy Warhols and Brian Jonestown Massacre. dig it! also: Silver Jews, Stephen Malkmus, Zombies, Mooney Suzuki.

mp3s in the hoooooouussseee!

Girl Talk: "Pure Magic" and "Bounce That" (out now on Illegal Art)
Mash ups to end all mash ups. See how many samples you can identify. it's like a game. better than photo hunt. here's a few: Genesis, Digital Underground, Snap!, Banarama, the Breeders, Stevie Wonder, Steve Winwood (oh yea can you believe i knew that last one!?). the whole album has over 150 total. this kinda thing has been done--the avalanches rocked the house-- but not on this level. it's party time. -kenyon


putting your face on a record cover is egotistical. i'm pretending that girl talk knows this and is making fun of that.

what ever will we do without Sleater-Kinney? i...i feel like i'm losing a really good friend.
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Robots in disguise. July 2007.
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Blender knows best. even when it's looking like Spin. or is it vice versa.
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I can't close my eyes and make it go away.

Please make the glaciers stop melting. The polar bears need something to walk on. And please stop the warming. I despise summer as it is. Whoops! too late! we're fudged. We did it to ourselves. And that's why it really hurts.


so anyway, ok cool, it's party time! let's blow sh*t up! who's got the beer yo!?

Sufjan Stevens: The Avalanche- Outtakes and Extras from the Illinois Album (Asthmatic Kitty)
release: July 11, 2006
styles: Indie chamber folk
similar: Simon & Garfunkel, Eric Matthews, Nick Drake, Leonard Cohen
rating: ****

This is ridiculous. If Sufjan Stevens has an outtakes record for every record about a state, we are never going to hear the end of it. Not from blogs, not from lesser-known celebrities, not from anyone. What a great plan! The Avalanche--21 tracks total, including some alternate versions--is worthy of an elaborate cheer from Stevens' cheerleading squad. Usually there is good reason why an artist's songs don't make the first cut. In this case, The Avalanche is made up of so many quiet A-list chamber and folk pieces that it has no problem working as a proper record (though Illinois was originally intended to be a double album anyway). For detailed gushing, see any other given review. -Kenyon